Articles Tagged withCalifornia cannabis attorney

Humans are not the only ones to benefit from California’s legalization of recreational marijuana. Pets, too, can receive medical benefits from marijuana. National Public Radio reports on the anti-anxiety effects of marijuana products that are designed for use by pets. Such products produced noticeable benefits for dogs that were agitated by fireworks. (Shelters see an increase in activity around the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, due to pets who run away after being frightened by fireworks.)

While marijuana products and derivatives can help soothe pets, they can also subject an owner to criminal liability for possession. Continue reading

The legalization of recreational marijuana in California has created a revolution within the cannabis business sector. As cannabis business owners prepare to adapt to the regulatory and financial overhaul of an entire industry, many are looking to the craft wine sector as a model of profitability in a highly regulated industry. Some ambitious entrepreneurs are even looking to combine the two in a potent combination of craft pairings.

The Craft Strategy

The overhaul of the cannabis industry in California is an expensive proposition, and many owners of smaller cannabis businesses simply do not have the resources to adapt their business model to new regulations. They are addressing this problem in many different ways. Some small farm owners are banding together to form marijuana co-ops, which will help all participants adapt to the changing industry. Others are borrowing the business model of the craft wine industry: by focusing on a specialized product which commands a premium in the marketplace, their profit margins increase dramatically.

Leafly reports on the case study of one Sonoma County grower who has eschewed the mass market strategy with great success. Sam Edwards grows loose, airy buds that have little value on the flower market, but are “absolutely great for extracts”. Indeed, his vape cartridges command a premium of nearly double the price of other cartridges. Edwards himself worked in the wine industry, and it was there that he learned this business strategy. By developing a high-end specialty product with local character, niche wineries were able to compete with large, mass-production wine companies. Edwards does the same to compete with mass market cannabis growers. Continue reading

The legalization of recreational marijuana use in California has presented many lucrative business opportunities within the cannabis industry. The Hill reports that Washington and Colorado surpassed one billion dollars in annual sales of marijuana in 2017 after legalizing its recreational use. California, by contrast, brought in two billion dollars of sales of medical marijuana in 2016. Cannabis business in California is projected to bring in five billion dollars in annual sales once the business provisions of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act take full effect in 2018.

Like any new business venture, however, new opportunities bring new challenges and expenses. For cannabis businesses which are prepared to manage these expenses, the opportunities can bring lasting cash flow to a growing industry. Continue reading

Marijuana has created a confusing legal vortex for the enforcement of impaired driving laws. In contrast to alcohol, there is no set blood level at which a driver is legally impaired by marijuana. California’s new recreational marijuana law also makes it more difficult for an officer to determine whether a driver has exceeded the allowable limit of marijuana for personal use. Finally, federal law makes the transportation of any amount of marijuana a federal crime. While the Department of Justice has not, historically, expended funds for the prosecution of defendants who were following state law, this is a policy choice which is subject to change with each new administration.

The Preliminary Determinations in a DUI Investigation

Before determining if a driver is impaired, law enforcement officers must first determine whether the driver has a legal right to possess or consume marijuana at all. Prior to November 9, 2016, California drivers could only do so by the possession of a valid medical marijuana card. Now – with the legalization of recreational marijuana – any person in California may possess up to one ounce of marijuana or six plants. An officer who pulls over a California driver on suspicion of DUI must therefore first determine: (a) if there is marijuana in the vehicle, and (b) whether it exceeds the legal limit.

While Californians may have a right to possess marijuana, it is still illegal to drive with an open container of marijuana in the vehicle. According to the Sacramento Bee, this applies to any receptacles or marijuana products that are open, have previously been opened, or have a broken seal. Continue reading

When California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, this was a very progressive move that separated the state from the rest of the nation in many ways. From then until now, more and more people across the country have come to support the legalization of marijuana. This was first an effort to legalize medical marijuana, and now many are supporting the legalization of marijuana for recreational use as well.

According to a recent news article from Washington Post, a new survey is showing that public support for legalization of marijuana was at the highest it has ever been in 2016. This does not mean it is sloping down this year, as the survey only included results through 2016. Continue reading

As discussed in a recent news article from The Fader, one medical marijuana producer is partnering with another large company to turn a closed California state penitentiary into a large medical marijuana farm. The company with which he has chosen to partner is a well known manufacturer of medical marijuana oils and extracts. Extracts are a growing sector of the business and they can be sold directly to patients or used by those who manufacture edible marijuana products.

The prison that will house this new marijuana farm is the Clermont Custody Center located in Coalinga, California. It was purchased by this investor for just over $4 million and a restructuring of county debt in the amount of $3.3 million. Continue reading

California was the first state to legalize medical in the nation. Since that time, around half of the states and the District of Columbia have followed in California’s footsteps and some have even gone so far as to legalize marijuana for recreational use. This November, in addition to the hugely important presidential election, voters in California will be voting on Proposition 64. This ballot initiative, if successful, would legalize marijuana for recreational purposes in the state.

While this is good news to many, some in the medical marijuana community aren’t supporting this effort according to a recent news article from the Los Angeles Times. One medical marijuana dispensary operator who was interviewed as part of this article discussed some of her concerns. Continue reading

At a quinceanera in San Francisco, 19 people were sickened – including a 6-year-old child – after reportedly consuming gummy candies that were available as refreshments at the birthday festivities.

Now, investigators with the San Francisco Police Department have said they believe the “candy” was in fact a form of edible marijuana and they are exploring whether the candy might have been placed there intentionally.

If it is shown the candy was knowingly placed there as a means to harm children, officials said, that would be, “a serious crime.” Still, officials said they wouldn’t rush to that assumption. Thirteen of the 19 people who fell ill were under the age of 18, with the youngest being just 6-years-old. The party was for a 15-year-old girl. Continue reading